Note: Javascript is disabled or is not supported by your browser. For this reason, some items on this page will be unavailable. For more information about this message, please visit this page: About CDC.gov.

Occupational exposure to potentially hazardous materials during asphalt pavement construction was investigated at two sites, Interstate 80 and US 99 in Sacramento and Davis, California. Approximately 1,814 metric tons of conventional asphalt were laid by Granite Construction Company (SIC-1611) workers on October 7 and 10 of 1994; about 4,082 metric tons of crumb rubber modified (CRM) asphalt was laid by the same workers on October 6 and 11. While the air sample results for total particulate, respirable particulate, and benzene soluble particulate concentrations varied between sampling locations and across different days, there appeared to be slightly higher concentrations with the conventional asphalt as opposed to the CRM method. The total polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon concentrations above the paver screen were 2.5 times higher during the conventional asphalt paving period as compared to the CRM asphalt paving period. Benzothiazole (95169) concentrations were about ten times higher during the CRM asphalt paving period. The authors conclude that asphalt fume emissions and other exposure measurements were below current NIOSH recommended exposure limits or other relevant exposure limits. Acute symptoms were reported by workers in association with asphalt paving exposure, with higher reporting of symptoms occurring during the CRM asphalt paving period.